If you passed by Cross Campus during Eli Day last week, there is a good chance you left the place with your very own English Ivy plant. I know I did, excitedly strolling back to my dorm with this potted vine firmly clasped in my arms. Before even arriving at my destination, I knew my new possession would look wonderful in front of my window, and maybe one day, it would wrap around the window itself like the walls of an old English castle.

Then I realized I had no idea how to care for my ivy plant. Sure, I have a garden at home, but those are all outside plants, the kind I can water with a hose and live in the ground. I am dealing with an indoor plant, a decorative piece. I would need to take extra care so it would look nice, get enough sun and water, not dirty up everything else in my room, and somehow stay alive in the process.

Luckily for me (and for you, dear reader), the internet has quite a few websites dedicated to navigating this very conundrum. After scavenging the World Wide Web and learning from many a plant-site, I've compiled a list of what to do.

Here comes the sun, oh no...

To begin, let's start with one of the easiest and most important things to consider with regard to our plant: sun exposure. While a lot of plants love to soak up the sun uninhibited, our little vine does not. English Ivy is a shady plant and prefers partial or full shade. Too much of the big ball of fire will dry it out, so before settling on its placement, make sure it has good shadow coverage and can get some of the sun's rays indirectly.

I blessed the rains on my ivy plant!

In addition to the sun, us new ivy-growers need to be hyper-aware of our little buddy's water intake. Thankfully, it's very easy, and this bit of advice boils down to two words: don't overwater! Ivy prefers a dryer existence, especially when it grows indoors. Water it only once a week, giving just enough H2O to wet, not drench, the soil around the plant. Also, avoid watering the leaves because the wetness can spawn fungi, and nobody wants a fungus among us.

A pot for your thoughts

As far as the potting goes, drainage and soil are the name of the game. Indoor ivy needs to have good drainage to avoid root rot while at the same time being placed in a soil environment that is nutrient-rich. Looks like the plastic container the vine came in will have to go. As a replacement, I recommend a ceramic pot with holes on the bottom and an accompanying plate to mount it on so you don't get water and dirt all over your dorm. In addition, I would supplement this with a small bag of plant fertilizer, which will give the plant the nutrients it craves. Will this all cost money? Yes, but look on the bright side. You finally get to discover where Home Depot is and can embrace your inner gardener.

To prune or not to prune, that is the question

For the most part, ivy is a low-maintenance plant. After planting, you can leave it be, and it will grow, but it does require your assistance from time to time. This comes in the form of pruning. Now, before you start clipping willy-nilly, allow me to expand further. Ivy grows slowly, taking ten years to become an adult plant. What this means is that you will have to do very minimal pruning, clipping some dying leaves and cutting away excess growth every few months. Just make sure you are wearing gloves, using sharp clippers, and cutting at the base of the vine. Ivy sap can cause irritation, so tread with caution.